Black Bear Hunting

Highboy, we've shot several bear over 300 lbs with 6.8; 110 vmax. Mine were going 2700 on the chrono. All shots were well placed shooting from stand over barrel. Only one grizz was shot around our house this fall, with a 30-30 to boot. One local girl that uses my stand from time to time has shot a bunch of bear with her 270; they drop on the spot. Indians down Ft Yukon got a sow polar bear with 223 fmjs a couple years back; but it was only 400 lber.

All the moose, caribou, bear and wolves we've shot; only the wolves got away from time to time, in fact; deer back east seemed tougher than just about anything; had a few get away over the years.

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I get what your saying. I am not saying it can't be done with a .243, I just think 85gr. is taking a chance. Can it be done? Absolutely, but I would prefer a 100gr. Also, it is all about shot placement. I think the 110gr vmax is fine and as for the 30-30 and .270, those are great calibers. I have a .243 and if I was packing it and all I had was a 85gr round, then I would be hard pressed not to go for it. But if I knew I was possibly going to be running across a bear I would choose to go with the gr for the .243. If the op goes for the bear with the 85gr bullet I applaud him for trying and hope he gets a big one.

The TSX has some impressive capabilities, don't underestimate that bullet just on it's weight; but I'd personally want something bigger myself FWIW. Shot placement is key if you do go that route, but with bear, 'buck fever' is that much more severe! I want some fudge factor/room for error if possible!

As long as that TSX is poking along at a good pace to begin with, it will do the job, it's supposed to do very well at a wide range of velocities/distances on different game.

no knife fights for me, if anything can get past 20 rounds of 7.62, 15 rounds of .40 and then 5 rounds of .357, they deserve to get me!

The rifle would be a better weapon anyway I think, if you run out of bullets, start swinging it hard, it can be a good impact weapon!

Last year I did quite a bit of my hunting with the single shot Ruger no.1 but I like having my M1A, plenty adequate caliber wise but 20 rounds on tap is hard to beat.

but Caneman, I would for certain get yourself a bear tag in the event you see one, you never know when you will stumble accross one. That's a lot of meat in the freezer!

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How about a rifle with a good bayonet? I don't use a pistol in NC you have to register them with the Sheriff-and I don't want to register anything, though if there is any law enforcement I would trust would be local sheriff. The county I live in is very rual. I am in a town of 200 or less folks. We DO have a lot of black bears here about 15 miles away a fella got one about 800 pounds.

like a M44 mosin? or some other military rifle... heh heh, all I can say is good luck if you're down to a bayonet!

When I train with long guns, I always practice transition drills; when the primary goes down either jam or out of ammo, I control it down with my off hand while drawing my sidearm, letting the long gun hang from it's sling. But the M1A I use is pretty reliable, has yet to jam once on me except for one batch of bad reloads I made years ago, that was the ammo's fault (my fault, sized them incorrectly).

I lived in NC for a while, had to get the pistol permit from the county sheriff just to buy a handgun, kinda sucks. Here in WA, I just walk in with me CCW and walk out with a handgun, too easy.

A good rifle with multiple round capability of any kind bolt, semi, whatever, should keep you out of bear trouble. Or a solid hit from my .458 single shot, that will do the trick.

I also use the shotgun with slugs if I'm primarily out for grouse, keep a slug or OOO buck loaded last in the tube, with 2 birdshot loads first. If I see a bear I just have to rack it twice and dust him, then reload. Or just unload all three on him.

like a M44 mosin? or some other military rifle... heh heh, all I can say is good luck if you're down to a bayonet!

When I train with long guns, I always practice transition drills; when the primary goes down either jam or out of ammo, I control it down with my off hand while drawing my sidearm, letting the long gun hang from it's sling. But the M1A I use is pretty reliable, has yet to jam once on me except for one batch of bad reloads I made years ago, that was the ammo's fault (my fault, sized them incorrectly).

I lived in NC for a while, had to get the pistol permit from the county sheriff just to buy a handgun, kinda sucks. Here in WA, I just walk in with me CCW and walk out with a handgun, too easy.

A good rifle with multiple round capability of any kind bolt, semi, whatever, should keep you out of bear trouble. Or a solid hit from my .458 single shot, that will do the trick.

I also use the shotgun with slugs if I'm primarily out for grouse, keep a slug or OOO buck loaded last in the tube, with 2 birdshot loads first. If I see a bear I just have to rack it twice and dust him, then reload. Or just unload all three on him.

Some bacon and honey somethin' or nuthers on a camp stove.... oops, did I say that out loud?

I bought some predator calls to help lure them in also... gonna try calling them in with a buddy, we're going to sit about 100m apart facing each other and alternate calling. That way if a mountain kitty or bobcat comes up behind one of us, the other will be able to shoot. (or a bear for that matter)

LOL, I thought about that too... I saw all the deer camps a few weeks ago and was wondering how many of them were just leaving some bacon simmering over the fire in hopes that a bear would come through!